Steven Reid ready to return in Blues clash

Defender Steven Reid believes he will be available to face Chelsea on Saturday after making his comeback from a two-month injury lay-off.

The Albion full-back played for more than an hour for the Baggies’ under-21s on Sunday – his first match action since limping out of the September 1 win against Everton with a hamstring injury. And the former Ireland international reckons he would be ready to face the Blues and former boss Roberto Di Matteo at The Hawthorns if required.

“There’s no problem with the hamstring and I feel better for playing,” said Reid, who featured as an over-age player in the under-21s’ 4-0 win against Norwich.

“It’s important that everything is bang on and I’m pleased I’m now where I need to be in terms of my hamstring.”

The former Ireland international missed eight Premier League games due to injury after being forced to abort his first comeback when he re-injured his hamstring. And he revealed how he and captain Chris Brunt both braved intensely cold conditions at a treatment centre in Northamptonshire to aid their recovery from their respective hamstring problems.

“I’ve been off to Moulton College, where I tried loads of different treatments which got me away from the training ground,” said the 31-year-old. “Me and Brunty went over and we had a few days of intense rehab.

“They’ve just built The Chris Moody Centre there and they’ve got a cryo chamber where it’s -140 degrees.

“They’ve got water therapy pools and a 30-metre pool so we were starting at 9.30am and working through until 5.30pm.